Microphone arrangement



1 000 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0? 00000000000000. 0 0000000000000000 0000000000000000 000 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ++00+00000 00000000000000 000000000000 00000000000.00 0000000001000 00000000000000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DD )ODODQOOVQDGDO INVENTOR KARL RE/NTHALER BY ATTORNEY? K. REINTHALER MICROPHONE ARRANGEMENT Filed May 26, 1960 March 27, 1962 United States Patent a firm Filed May 26, 1960, Ser. No. 31,974 Claims priority, application Austria June 16, 1959 Claims. (Cl. 179-1) This invention relates to a microphone arrangement for stereophonic sound recording by the intensity method, comprising two individual directional microphones arranged vertically one over the other and pivotally movable relative to each other.

It is an object of the invention to improve the mechanical design of a microphone arrangement of the type mentioned above with respect to the construction as well as to the ease of operation. The invention provides a design which is distinguished by a smaller number of elements of construction and by a convenient operation (no consideration need to be given in this connection to the actial components of the microphones, such as microphone button, casing etc., because they are insignificant for the invention).

According to the invention a microphone arrangement of the kind mentioned hereinbefore is characterized in that each microphone has a base plate, which is parallel to the axis of the directional pattern of the microphone and both plates are detach-ably connected by mechanical means so that both microphones are arranged with mirror symmetry, at least one of the base plates being provided with means for connection to a support, preferably a stand, and each microphone button is centrally mounted on its base plate for rotation relative thereto.

The mechanical joint may be provided in various ways. It is suitable to couple the two microphones by snap fasteners known per se. In addition to one or more push buttons, fitting pins may be arranged in a manner known per se in the base plate. The mechanical joint may also be provided by a bayonet joint, by locking bars arranged on the outside on the base plate, by a screwed connection or the like. It is suitable to arrange snap fastener parts in a central recess of the inherently identical base plates and to locate the base plate by two fitting pins. By means of a central screw in the base plate a bail member which carries the microphone button and which is connected to the sheet metal or screen shell is urged against the base plate so that the sheet metal or screen shell is rotatably urged against the base plate.

Owing to the arrangement of the parts of the snap fastener joint according to the invention in a recess in the bottom plate each microphone can be individually used as a table microphone by placing it on the base plate, and the same base plate can also be used for microphones which are inherently intended for use as individual microphones. This is also a certain advantage in manufacture.

A-n illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawing. FIG. 1 is an elevation representing the microphone arrangement shown partly in section on the left of the centre line. FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the base plate, taken on line II-II of FIG. 1.

1 is the base plate consisting of an outer ring 1a, a central disc 1b and spokes 1c. The slightly tapering housing shell 2, which consists of perforated sheet metal or a wire mesh is covered by a cap 3 and rotatably mounted in an annular groove 1d. The base plate 1 has a tapped lug 5 to enable its fixation to a support, such as a stand 4.

The microphone button 6 is afiixed to a bail member 7, which is firmly connected to the housing shell 2 and by means of a central screw 8 arranged in the base plate 3,027,423 i ateinted Mar. 27, 1962 2 1 is urged against the disc 1b, whereby the housing shell is rotatably held against the base plate 1. The screw 8 locates at the same time the male 9 or the female 10 of a snap fastener joint known per se, which are arranged in a central opening 1e of the base plate 1 and interengage to hold the two identical directional microphones together when the base plates are laid one against the other. Fitting pins 11 may be provided in the spokes 10' or in the ring 1a in order to hold the two base plates 1 against rotation. To limit the rotation of the housing shell with the microphone button 6, the ring 1:! may be formed inside the annular groove 10 with a recess, not shown, which receives a pin aifixed to the shell and serving as a stop. Owing to the connection of the lower microphone to the stand the mechanical connection to the upper microphone need not be particularly firm. The base plate openings are covered by perforated sheet metal elements 12, screens or the like. 13 are the cables.

The arrangement according to the invention provides a simple assembly of two single-channel microphones to form a two-channel microphone.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown, e.g., the base plate may have a bottom formed with holes and may be of polygonal shape, also the cap 3. Instead of the provision of the central snap fastener joint each of the fitting pins may be replaced by a snap fastener joint.

I claim:

1. A microphone arrangement :for stereophonic recording by the intensity method, comprising two individual directional microphones each of which comprises a base plate extending parallel to the axis of the directional pat tern of the microphone, and a microphone button centrally mounted on said base plate for rotation relative thereto, said microphones being arranged vertically one above the other, with said base plates adjoining each other, said arrangement comprising further mechanical means detachably connecting said base plates, and means carried by at least one of said base plates for connection to a support.

2. A microphone arrangement as set forth in claim 1, in Which said means for connection to a support comprise a tapped lug.

3. A microphone arrangement as set forth in claim 1 in which said mechanical means comprise at least one fitting pin carried by one of said base plates and the other of said base plates is formed with a portion receiving said fitting pin.

4. A microphone arrangement as set forth in claim 1, in which each of said base plates comprises on its surface adjoining the other base plate a central recess and said central recesses accommodate said snap fastener joint.

5. A microphone arrangement as set forth in claim 1, in which each of said microphones comprises a soundpermeable shell, a bail member carrying said microphone button and connected to said shell, and a central screw rotatably connecting said bail to said base plate to urge said shell against said base plate for rotation relative thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,198,424 Baurnzweiger Apr. 23, 1930 2,611,035 Duncan Sept. 16, 1952 2,950,358 Duncan Aug. 23, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 744,696 Germany Jan. 17, 1955 752,002 Germany Dec. 12, 1953 793,546 Great Britain Apr. 16, 1958 813,166 Germany Sept. 10, 1951 

